World Bank team to arrive in September

(WB) delegation, headed by Carlos Silvani, is expected to arrive in Pakistan on September 14.


Irshad Ansari August 30, 2010

ISLAMABAD: A World Bank (WB) delegation, headed by Carlos Silvani, is expected to arrive in Pakistan on September 14 for a 15-day visit.

The upcoming imposition of the reformed General Sales Tax (GST) on October 1 and the Tax Administration Reforms Programme (Tarp) will come under review during the delegation’s discussions with the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).

The delegation will also meet finance ministry representatives who will brief them on the proposed operation of the reformed GST regime and on the progress of negotiations between Islamabad and provinces over the issue of GST collection on services.

Discussions regarding the performance of the expedited GST refund system, electronic tax collection and refund pilot project are also on the agenda.

Tarp II

A report prepared on implementation of Tarp will be presented by the FBR to WB’s board of directors, who will take the final decision on the initiation of the subsequent Tarp II.

The WB had previously endorsed the implementation of Tarp II, a project which is expected to last till December 2015. Its predecessor, Tarp, culminates at the end of this year.

The five-year Tarp II will build on developments and funds not used in the execution of Tarp. The aim of the project is to broaden the tax net and increase the tax to Gross Domestic Product ratio.

The first phase of Tarp II will be concluded by the end of 2012.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 31st, 2010.

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